What to Consider for the Best Laptop for Graphic Designer?

The laptop for designer includes many factors than a standard laptop that needs you scrutinized.

Before getting too far on select the right model, we provide a detailed guide below. Let’s take a look.

Mac and Window

First thing first, the most thing you must consider is operating systems. Mac OS and Microsoft Windows are the common platforms with graphic design.

With designer, Window, and Mac always is the debate, don’t come to an end. Most people feel comfortable when working with Windows, while others think it is not serious and professional without a Mac.

Each of the operating systems provides different experiences. Mac OS provides the ecosystem OS, which synchronized with another device of Apple. In particular, Mac OS is a high-security system and stably running.

On the contrary, Microsoft Window is an open system for high custom. If you are familiar with Windows, changing to Mac OS will be a bit difficult in use.

So, choosing the operating systems depend on the required of your work or whether you want to work with a Windows or Mac.

CPU

CPU or processor such as the heart that is one of powerful and expensive of the machine. For graphic design, your laptop needs a strong processor to run the heavy software.

For example, Adobe Premium required dual-core 2 GHz for the minimum chipset. Photoshop uses CPU for the most task that needs dual-core and 2.5 GHz for the minimum configuration.

As a designer, your laptop needs more than that. Therefore, you should choose a quad-core and high series chipset.

Also, the brand of chipset must be considered. Intel chipset is a common brand that is stable operation and saves battery better. Besides, AMD chipset is known about the higher performer, but have a problem with energy efficiency and temperature.

Graphics card

Video Graphics Adaptor ( VGA) has the function of handling graphics such as resolution ability, contrast, image quality displayed on the screen.

Most graphic software required the GPU core for the render process. If your laptop uses an out-model video chip or insufficient memory card, some features will not be available during the render process.

For video render, you need a strong, dedicated video card to suit software and to work smoothly.

The perfect VGA of the laptop for a designer must have a discrete graphics card with h3of memory or higher. In addition, Nividia is a familiar brand with graphic design.

RAM

RAM is the random access memory of the laptop. Without sufficient RAM memory, all of the systems would be much slow

With designers, they often use heavy software such as Photoshop, Adobe, Autocad that need a lot of RAM memory.

Even though Photoshop request that 2 GB for the lowest of memory, your laptop needs more than it. To prevent performance problems, your device should equip 8GB of RAM or more.

Storage Drive

As you know, the storage drive store all of the data about Windows and software. As if RAM, the device can not smoothly work if the hard drive is full.

In fact, HDD is standard hardware that uses for a computer in part. Using mechanical platters for reading and write data that make HDD is limited by size and speed.

On the other hand, A solid-state drive( SSD) store data on the memory chips that provide extreme speed access data.

So, you should choose the model which uses SSD for high performing tasks or choosing the laptop, which uses both SSD and HDD.

Screen

As a designer graphic, the screen is an essential factor. In case you use the laptop for image processing, the quality of the screen must be considered.

The majority of laptops equips the budget TN screen that optimized for games, but the screen or graphic needs a realistic display. IPS screen is an idea for your device.

In addition, Woking with image required the large screen and high resolution to input file. Therefore, 15.6 inches of laptop screen size and 1920×1080 pixels is recommended.

Top 5 Best Laptop for Graphic Designer in 2020

Now, don’t waste your time. Let’s take a preview at the list of top 5 excellence laptops for a graphic designer below.

#1 Acer Predator Helios 300 model G3-571-77QK-Best Choice

Performing like a high-end machine but has a budget price, Acer Predator Helios 300 deserves to be at the top of the list.

At first glance, the Helios 300’s designer is sturdy with a masculine trait of Predator mode. By unique heat sink design, this device has excellent heat dissipation capability.

The display is 1920*1280 IPS; it’s a wide viewing and sharp but not too outstanding. In fact, the screen of this model has a bit of a brightness quality when using outdoor. Some colors are faded or lack pop.

Besides, the touchpad and keyboard excel overall. Chiclet-style key and red backlights make you comfort when typing. Moreover, the click pad is smooth and precise running.

This device included a 256GB SSD. Although it is fast and robust, it is easy to fulfill by big-size graphics software. Ideally, you can supplements HDD hard drive for big data and SSD for running Windows and software.

Overall, though, the screen of Acer Predator Helios 300 has a bit color problem, it is still an excellence laptop for graphic design. Having an impressive configuration go with a budget price, this product must be considered.

Pros

Budget price

Good keyboard and touchpad

Masculine design

Cons

Not good display quality

Not much memory storage

#2 Budget choice: ASUS ZenBook 14 model UX433FN

Next, we introduce an impressive product from the Asus brand. It is light, thin, and better design than all of the previous models. If you find out the product which is portable but still has high performance, ZenBook 14 can give what you want.

First of all, this model gives 14 inches Full HD IPS. Thanks to the custom design, this is a beautiful screen with a 92 percent full-screen border. Therefore the building smaller than most 14 inches model, even the 13-inch model.

These are not many models that can provide 14 inches display in a compact design while still have HDMI, USB, and high configuration included.

Let’s take a look at the configuration.

Come with the Intel Core i7-8565U Processor that is a dominant 8th gen chipset for the graphics process. Although MT 150 graphic card is not as strong as GTX 1060, it still enough to work smoothly on most of the graphics software.

Besides, the 512 GB PCIe SSD is also appreciated. Clearly, the capacity of ZenBook 14 can store more comfortably than 256 GB storage without supplement HDD hard drive.

The most outstanding in this model is the touchpad, which will work as the replacement Numpad when you need it. It is just a standard touchpad, but it can be a Numpad when you hold your finger at the top-right corner in a few seconds.

To sum up, Asus ZenBook is a budget product which is contract, light while it has high performance for the designer.

Pros

Beautiful full-screen border.

Budget price

Cons

Dim screen

#3 For smooth graphic: Acer Predator Helios 300 model PH315-52-78VL

This is another powerful from Acer Predator that you cannot ignore. As an upgrade of the Predator Helio 300 series, model PH315-52-78VL is an impressive graphic design that comes with excellence hardware.

One of the best advantages of this model is the screen’s quality that is 15,6 inches full HD with 144hz and the lowest response time. It also has an excellence contrast ratio and color accuracy for working with the image.

The power of the machine comes from Intel Core i7 9750H processor. This 9th gen quad-core is the newest chipset of Intel; it has a standard 2.6 GHz clocking frequency that can reach up to 4,5 GHz by turbo boost.

There is a physical turbo button to reach up clocking frequency when you need more power in work. It’s a curious thing about this item.

Also, the power of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti in this laptop close to the RTX 2000s series that combines with i7 9650H makes a perfect dual for render process.

This is only a weakness in this monster is battery life. When used in standard light, you can get around 9 hours of battery life. But with heavy graphic software, the battery life could be drained out in 3-4 hours.

In short, if you simply find the smooth laptop for work that is affordable, Predator Helio 300 model PH315-52-78V also is a great choice.

Pros

High performance

Affordable

Low response time of screen

Cons

Not much memory storage

Weak battery life.

#4 Best brand choice: Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

It would be a mistake if we didn’t introduce MacBook Pro from Apple. For a long time, the MacBook is a representable laptop for a designer which runs on the OS platform.

As you know, these were many designs software only runs on the OS system. Moreover, the “Apple ecosystem” is very diverse. If you use an iPhone, Ipad, Apple Watch for work, MacBook Pro surely is the next product you much supplement to your collection.

Besides the fantastic design of the MacPro series, the thin and light form is the stunning factor of this model. However, the thin design limits connectivity ability, MacBook Pro 2018 just have 5 ports, one for the headphone jack and left for USB-C.

In some cases, the lack of ports will make you inconvenience. If you want an Ethernet cable or memory card reader, you will need the adapter as well.

Come with intel core i9 8-Core 9th gen; Mac pro 15 seems to be an excellent machine. Nevertheless, the power of intel i9 don’t reach up to maximize performance when it combines with Radeon Pro 560x Graphics.

For the designer, this model also is a great choice with the power of intel core i9 and fantastic design. If you want to work with the OS platform and haven’t any problem with ports, MacBook Pro is the perfect selection.

#5 For best battery life: Microsoft Surface Book 2

At last of the list, we recommend the crazy long battery life product from Microsoft brand.

Inheriting the original’s design, Surface Book 2 is the stunning 15-inches item. The case makes from aluminum while it is thin and lightweight that provides high mobility.

Moreover, the screen is not detached on the base that is a special feature of Surface Book. When you separate this part, the screen will work as a tablet for drawing design.

Being the product of design, the screen of this model has a great resolution at 3.240 x 2.160 (260 PPI). Thanks to the considerable effort to improving the response of Microsoft, you definitely indiscernible the delay when drawing in display now.

Possessing the large battery capacity in both screen and base, this item provides a crazy long battery life. With 15 hours of video playback in real-life, you can use comfortable working outdoor without changing.

In the end, this model is an impressive product with good configuration, long battery life, and great design. If you don’t have any problem with the price, it will be excellence selection.

Pros

Massively powerful

Impressive design

High-quality screen

Cons

No Surface Pen included

Pricey

FAQs

How much RAM do I need for graphic design?

For RAM, Photoshop CC 2016 required 8GB for the basic process, and After Effect CC 2019 recommended 8GB RAM for the minimum. However, more than 8GB RAM memory is better if you usually work with an image or video process.

In fact, 16GB-32GB is usually a selection. Therefore, 16 GB seems to be an ideal memory when you begin working with the graphic.

Is the graphic card necessary for graphic design?

Definitely, the answer is YES!

The robust machine can’t lest the strong graphic card. With the designer, the graphic card as the second brand of the device. In some cases, the CPU still can undertake the render process, but it will take a lot of time and produce low quality. If you are a professional designer, an intense graphics card is necessary.

How long does a graphics card last?

The strong graphics card such as GTX 1060 or GTX 1660 can last 4-10 years. It depends on the way you use it. In fact, the card is overclocked at high risk than a standard card.

If you use for heavy software every day or usually let it in thermal overload, it will stably run about three years or more.

However, you can raise the life expectancy of this item by cleaning recurrently and running boost fan mode when working.

What laptop specs do I need for graphic design?

Here we will provide a summary of necessary specs requirements for graphic design:

Edward Tashihira is an 25 year old blogger. He is a Software Engineer by profession and blogger by passion. He writes on various topics like Technology, Blogging, Web designing and SEO. He runs various other blogs under various niches.